Indiana University Athletics
Leila Vaziri Takes Second Straight Big Ten Weekly Award
11/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 7, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana senior Leila Vaziri earned her second consecutive weekly honor from the Big Ten, as she was named the league's Co-Swimmer of the Week after helping IU defeat No. 11 Texas, the conference office announced Nov. 7.
Vaziri played a huge role in helping the Hoosiers knock off the Longhorns in Austin on Saturday, Nov. 4, posting three top-two finishes against a bevy of Texas All-Americans, all in NCAA "B" cut times.
The Coral Springs, Fla., native led off of the victorious 200-yard medley relay, helping IU top a Texas relay that included three 2006 first-team All-Americans in Connie Brown, Elizabeth Tinnon and Katie Robinson. The Hoosiers' time of 1:42.22 in the event was good for the sixth-best in school history.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Vaziri, a late addition to the event after being switched out of the 50-yard freestyle, defeated two All-Americans in Brown and Tinnon. Her time was 1:50.07.
Vaziri capped her day with a second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle in 50.39. She was touched out by Brown at the wall for the win, but beat 2006 first-team All-American Hee Jin Chang by 1.67 seconds in the event.
"Leila had a real strong meet at Texas," head coach Ray Looze said. "What was really impressive about the performance was it was in events that she doesn't really specialize in, like the 200 free and 100 free, which just shows how versatile she is. One of them was on short notice and she pulled out a win. She's really a humble kid, and it's neat to see somebody that does it the right way having success."
The award was the fourth of Vaziri's career and second this season. She also took the award on Oct. 31.
Vaziri shared this week's award with Purdue's Carlene Takaki.
Indiana (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) returns to action on Nov. 17-19, when it hosts the IU Open Invitational at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
